Learning to drive is a big step and it can be very exciting for a teen, but there’s also some risk involved. According to MarketWatch, 1.3 million young drivers were involved in traffic accidents in 2021 alone.
Young drivers tend to be at a higher risk because they can be more reckless and don’t have as much experience on the road. As such, it’s incredibly important to make sure that teens are taught how to drive properly.
Just because someone knows how to drive themselves, it doesn’t mean they know how to teach a teen to drive. The best way to ensure they’re prepared to get on the road is for them to be taught by a professional. This may have you heading to Google and searching “driving school near me”.
Finding the right school is key, but there are plenty of things that you can still teach your teen to help them prepare to head out on their own. In this beginner driving guide, we’ll go over some key driving tips for teens that will help you show them how to drive properly.
Start With a Tour of the Vehicle
Before anyone starts driving, they should be familiar with the vehicle they’re in control of. Show them how to adjust different features like the seat and mirrors. There may be some other accommodations that can help such as tilting the steering wheel so it’s comfortable for them.
Go over all of the controls and show them how everything works including:
- Dashboard controls
- Turn signals
- Headlights
- Wipers
- Emergency lights
- Safety features like airbags and seat belts
- Starting/turning off the engine
- Parking brake/release
- Gas and brake pedals (especially anti-lock brakes)
- Warning indicator lights on the dashboard (e.g. oil, fuel, and temperature indicator)
Make sure they also know where important documents like the registration, manual, and insurance card are.
Let Them Get a Feel for the Car
Safe driving for teens means starting them somewhere with very little risk. An empty parking lot is a common choice. They’ll only have to worry about how the car works rather than the rules of the road or other drivers.
This is ideal for teaching driving skills such as:
- Accelerating
- Braking
- Turning
- Backing up
Pay attention to how they’re progressing so you can make things more challenging in future lessons. It can take a bit of time, but this will all help them get used to controlling the vehicle.
After this, you want to get them to start focusing on their surroundings. Use parking spaces and other markings on the floor to get them to drive within certain parameters. Make sure they’re doing things like checking their mirrors and keeping a suitable safe distance between their car and potential obstacles.
Start Slow in Low-Speed, Low-Traffic Areas
Once their comfortable with how the vehicle feels, you can take your teen onto the road. Start in areas where they can drive slowly and there isn’t too much traffic. This will gradually introduce them to regular driving.
They can practice skills like:
- Pulling onto the road
- Staying on the correct side
- Anticipating cars exiting driveways
- Pulling up to stop signs
- Parallel parking
Stick to these kinds of areas for a while until your teen is completely comfortable with them. Make sure you highlight that the maximum speed limit applies to driving in good conditions. Explain that they need to be more cautious in rain or snow, or if there are a lot of pedestrians about.
Check Through Beginner Skills
To confirm they’re prepared to move on, you can use a beginner skills checklist. This can include things like:
- Turning (speed and signals)
- Accelerating smoothly
- Braking smoothly
- Approaching intersections
- Understanding right of way
- Multi-lane roadways
- Using turning lanes
- Maintaining a safe following distance
- Scanning for and identifying hazards
- Driving in a school zone
- Sharing the road with cyclists
- Reacting to emergency vehicles
Make sure they have a good grasp of all of these. Take them out in different conditions and to different locations to test their abilities. Once they’re confident with everything, you can move to the next level.
Drive on the Highway
Driving on a highway for the first time can be daunting, but it’s an important step. As such, you want to start your teen out at quieter times of the day.
They can practice merging, staying in their lane, and driving at higher speeds. This can be very stressful in rush hour traffic, so ease them into it. As they grow more comfortable, you can start taking them on the highway at busier times.
Before heading on to the highway, any driver should be confident with:
- Higher speeds
- Longer stopping distances
- Checking blind spots when changing lanes
- Anticipating interchanges by reading signs
- Driving close to trucks and other large vehicles
- Allowing a “safety space” around their vehicle
- Looking for slowing or stopped traffic ahead
Check Through Advances Skills
If your teen feels confident with highway driving, you can assess their abilities. Use an advanced skill checklist consisting of the following:
- Merging into traffic
- Maintaining a safe following distance
- Maintaining the right speed
- Passing and being overtaken
- Identifying road signs and exits
- Navigating toll booths
- Being courteous to others
Take Them Through Advanced Challenges
One of the biggest challenges drivers face is driving in difficult conditions. Even experienced drivers need to be careful in various situations. Get them to practice in different conditions to better prepare them for what they’ll have to deal with at some point.
Some situations they need to be ready for are:
- Bad weather (rain, snow, sleet, etc.)
- Changing lights (sunrise and sunset)
- New passengers; particularly a full car
- Different vehicles
How to Teach a Teen to Drive Properly
All of the above can help show you how to teach a teen to drive, but it shouldn’t be fully relied upon. Every new driver should practice under the guidance of a professional driving instructor. Finding the right Brooklyn driving school will help your teen stay safe on the road.
Pierre Paul Driving is perfect if you’re looking for a driving school in New York. We have a strong 4.8-star rating on Google from over 1,300 reviews and all of our drivers are DMV-certified. Take a look at our teen driving lessons page to find out more.